Electrical connector assembly

ABSTRACT

An electrical connector assembly having a male connector and a ring-shaped female connector interconnected by a flexible cable wherein the connector assembly is constructed in a one piece completely molded unit. The female connector has a plurality of sockets and guide holes formed in one surface of the ring.

O United States Patent 1 3,662,3 1 9 Culver May 9, 1972 [54] ELECTRICALCONNECTOR ASSEMBLY FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor; Pau]Culver, Ellicott City 588,376 5/1947 Great Britain ..339/176 M 588,0275/1947 Great Britain ..339/29 B [73] Asslgnee: The United States ofAmerica as represented by the secretary of the Navy PrimaryE.\aminerMarvin A. Champion [22] Filed: May 28, 1970 AssistantExaminer-Terrell P. Lewis pp 41237 A!t0rneyR. S. Sciascia and J. A.Cooke [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl ..339/Z8, 339/192 R. 339/193 VS, I

339/194 N An electrical connector assembly having a male connector [5]]1m. Cl h H H0" 11/00 HOlr 13/50 and a ring-shaped female connectorinterconnected by a flexi- [58] Field of 359/28 29 R B 31 33 ble cablewherein the connector assembly is constructed in 11 339/59 R, 65 66, 176R, 176 M 184, 19] one piece completely molded unit. The female connectorhas 9 191 My 2 R, 92 RL, 92 T 193 R, 93 a plurality of sockets and guideholes formed in one surface of N, 193 S, 193 US, 277 R the ring- [56]References Cited 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures P'A'TE'N'TEBMAY 9 m2 SHLET1 [1F 2 INVI'JN'I'UR Paul L. Culver ATTORNEY ELECTRICAL CONNECTORASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally toelectrical connector assemblies and more particularly to a one-piece,completely molded electrical connector assembly.

In some applications, electrical apparatus must be located deeply withinits associated equipment thereby making electrical connection theretodifficult. This is particularly true where access to the electricalapparatus can only be had through an extended restricted area, such forexample as a well in the casing of a torpedo, mine or depth charge. Inthese situations mating between male connectors positioned in oneapparatus and female connectors integral within a well in the matingapparatus can only be effected by a blind trial and error techniquewhich sometimes results in damage to the connectors, such for example asimpairment of the female contact members. In the past such damage couldbe repaired only by tediously chipping out and replacing the old femalecontact with a new one, rewiring the contact, and finally repotting theentire connection. Problems disclosed hereinabove are com plicated bythe rough handling of apparatus in which the connector is maintained.

Separate connector assemblies in lieu of integral arrangements have notproven practical since protuberances projecting from the electricalapparatus have rendered the use of standard connector assembliesphysically impossible. Furthermore, when the application of theelectrical equipment is in an underwater environment, short circuits maydevelop when separate connector assemblies are employed and water entersthe assemblies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide an integrally formed electrical connector assembly.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a one-piece,completely molded, waterproof electrical connector assembly.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electricalconnector assembly connectable to an electrical connector having acentrally disposed protuberance.

Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of this invention, these andother objects are obtained by providing a connector assembly having aflexible connector cable with male and female connector membersintegrally molded at either end thereto. A protuberance receivingaperture is fonried in one of the connector members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A more complete appreciation of theinvention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readilyappreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the overall electrical connectorassembly;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a side view partially in cross-section, illustrating anapplication of the electrical connector assembly of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingswherein like reference characters designate identical parts throughoutthe several views and more particularly to FIG. 1, the electricalconnector assembly generally designated as is shown as including aflexible, multiple conductor cable 14 having at opposite ends thereof afemale connector 12 and a male connector 16 connected thereto.

The female connector 12 is composed of an annular or ring shaped body 18formed of polyurethane and having a central circular aperture 19. Moldedwithin and circumferentially spaced around the ring-shaped portion 18are a plurality of pin receptacles 20 which are preferably positionedequidistantly from each other. These may be of any conventional type,such for example as the standard tube type socket contacts shown in FIG.2. Included intermittently among the sockets 20 and similarly moldedwithin the ring portion 18 are a series of guide members such as holes22, which may be equidistantly spaced apart, to position and guideassociated apparatus during the coupling operation by means ofcorresponding projections formed on the apparatus in mating positions.The guide members 22 are composed of tube portions having a bore 24opening into the lower surface 27 of the ring 18, and a cooperatingcounterbore 26 opening into the upper surface 28, the bores 24 and 26both being of greater diameter than that of the receptacles 20.

Each receptacle 20 is suitable fastened to an end of a conductor 30which extends from the flexible cable 14 by any conventional means suchas soldering or crimping. The end portions of conductors 30 of cable 14are fed into and lie within the lowermost portions of the ring 18substantially adjacent to the lower surface 27 and may be molded into afixed position therein. The inner surface 32 of the ring 18 isdownwardly beveled as shown in FIG. 2 thereby providing greater space inorder to accommodate the conductors 30.

The cable 14 is molded to the female connector 12 at a protuberance 34which extends radially from the ring 18 and is integral therewith.

Similarly attached to the opposite end of cable 14 and integrally moldedthereto is male connector 16 which may be one of a number of standarddevices including a plurality of straight connector pins 36 projectingfrom a cylindrical casing 38. The connector pins 36 are to be slideablymated by means of an interference fit into a corresponding plurality ofreceptacles of a female connector (not shown). It is to be understoodthat each individual connector pin 36 is attached to a second lead end(not shown) of a conductor 30 in a conventional manner therebyassociating with such connector pin 36 a corresponding socket 20.

By virtue of the integral relationship of the cable 14 and the femaleconnector 12 and the subsequent encapsulation of the conductors 30 inthe molded polyurethane ring 18 plus the unitary nature of the maleconnector 16 and cable 14, the conductors 30 are effectively sealed andthereby maintained water resistant.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the electrical connector assembly 10 isillustrated as providing a connection between two electrical devices 40and 42. The device 40 is seated within a well 43 in a housing 45 andincludes male contacts 44 positioned on a shoulder 46. Extending belowthe shoulder 46 is a central protuberance 48 which physically prohibitedthe utilization of socket members of prior electrical connectorassemblies. The protuberance 48 passes through the aperture 19 therebyallowing the mating of the male contacts 44 and sockets 20. It can alsobe seen from FIG. 3 that the diameter of aperture 19 is determined bythe size of the protuberance 48, having to be at least a small amountgreater to allow the protuberance to pass therethrough.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the presentinvention are possible in light of the above teachings such for exampleas replacing the sockets 30 with male pin contacts for mating with afemale connector. It is therefore to be understood that within the scopeof the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than asspecifically described herein.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. A one-piece watertight electrical connector assembly comprising:

a flexible cable containing a plurality of electrical conductors;

a first electrical connector integrally molded to one end of said cable,and including a plurality of straight connector into a first surface ofsaid second electrical connector and a cooperating counterbore openinginto a second surface of said second electrical connector opposite saidfirst surface, said bore and said counterbore being of greater diameterthan said sockets.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner face of saidaperture is beveled.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of socketsare equidistantly spaced around said aperture.

1. A one-piece watertight electrical connector assembly comprising: aflexible cable containing a plurality of electrical conductors; a firstelectrical connector integrally molded to one end of said cable, andincluding a plurality of straight connector pins, each pin fastened toone end of a corresponding one of said plurality of electricalconductors; a second electrical connector integrally molded to the otherend of said cable and having a circular aperture centrally formedtherein; a plurality of sockets formed in said second connector andcircumferentially spaced around said aperture, each socket fastened tothe other end of a corresponding one of said plurality of electricalconductors; and a plurality of guide members formed in said secondconnector, each comprising a tube portion having a bore opening into afirst surface of said second electrical connector and a cooperatingcounterbore opening into a second surface of said second electricalconnector opposite said first surface, said bore and said counterborebeing of greater diameter than said sockets.
 2. The connector assemblyof claim 1, wherein the inner face of said aperture is beveled.
 3. Theconnector assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of sockets areequidistantly spaced around said aperture.